You Will Never Know

I had about 40 Indonesian workers at my work section. I know the name of about 80% of them. 95% of them by face. Another 5%, I would probably not recognize them even I pass them by the road. I kept the mobile numbers of about 10% of them. These 10% are those that I can trust to get things done through a phone call.

This morning, one of them called me to inform that there was an accident on site. As they were walking to work, a taxi driver knocked into 3 of them. I was still at home then. I told him to get the ambulance. And I then called my supervisor to follow up. I then got to know that 1 died on the spot, 1 broke his leg and the third has some bruises on the leg. The first one belongs to the 5% group, while the other two is in the 10% group. Later they called me to ask for a day off as a respect for the dead. It seems that this is their culture back home in Java. I checked with the boss, but he insists that the critical earth removal works need to proceed, but other works can have a day off.

I was told they will go the mosque to pray for the dead, and some will make a trip to the hospital to visit the guy who broke his leg. (The third guy need not be hospitalized). Then I saw some guys who were wandering around, not sure what to do. Anyway you can't spend the whole in the mosque.

Life is so unpredictable. You will never know what will happen tomorrow. (An over-rated statement that being said too many times.) I am very sure that the guy who was dead never expected himself not to see the end of today. I asked who this guy was. They told me his name but I can't relate it. Later, when I went back to office, I had a look at his photo, but I can't visualize him on site.

What will happen to the guy who broke his leg? If he had difficulty walking properly, I don't think company will retain him. He has to go back home. What can he do back home? What will happen to him in future? He was only here to work!! I probably have bigger sentiments for this guy. Someone who can work and reliable. He don't talk much. I do hope that he can be well.